MotoGP - Americas GP

The Americas GP returns to Circuit of the Americas for the 2026 MotoGP season. This race brings premier motorcycle racing to Austin, Texas, at the only purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the United States. The 2026 edition marks a significant season for MotoGP, as teams compete with 1000cc engines for the final time before the series transitions to 850cc engines in 2027.

Circuit of the Americas Track Layout

Circuit of the Americas spans 5.513 kilometers (3.426 miles) with 20 corners that challenge riders through a mix of fast straights and technical sections. The track features 11 left-hand turns and 9 right-hand turns, with a counter-clockwise direction. The circuit's most distinctive feature is the steep uphill climb to Turn 1, part of an elevation change of approximately 41 meters across the facility.

Hermann Tilke designed the circuit, incorporating elements from famous tracks around the world. The longest straight measures 1.2 kilometers (0.746 miles), where riders reach maximum speeds before braking for the technical sections. The track width of 15 meters provides multiple racing lines and opportunities for overtaking. The facility can accommodate 120,000 spectators and includes a 251-foot observation tower that offers views of the entire circuit.

The 2026 MotoGP Grid

Eleven teams will compete at the Americas GP in 2026. Ducati Lenovo Team fields Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, while Aprilia Racing features Marco Bezzecchi alongside Jorge Martin. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team brings Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta to Circuit of the Americas.

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP enters the season with a new V4 engine configuration, marking Yamaha's first use of this engine layout in the modern MotoGP era. Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins ride for the factory Yamaha team. Prima Pramac Racing switches to Yamaha machinery for 2026, with Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jack Miller as riders.

Additional Teams and Riders

Gresini Racing Ducati features Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer. Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team runs Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Red Bull KTM Tech3 fields Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini. The Honda contingent includes the Repsol Honda Team with Luca Marini and Joan Mir, plus LCR Honda with Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira. Trackhouse Aprilia completes the grid with Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura.

Technical Specifications for 2026

MotoGP implements an engine freeze for the 2026 season, requiring factories to use their 2025 engine designs. Exceptions apply only for safety, reliability, or component availability issues, and only if modifications create no performance increase. The engine freeze does not apply to manufacturers in concession Rank D, which likely includes Yamaha and Honda based on recent performance.

The technical regulations maintain 1000cc four-stroke, four-cylinder engines with a maximum cylinder diameter of 81 millimeters. Bikes use sequential gearboxes with a maximum of 6 gears and must weigh at least 157 kilograms. These specifications will change in 2027 when the series adopts 850cc engines with a 75mm maximum bore, alongside new aerodynamic rules, sustainable fuels, and shared GPS data requirements.

COTA History and Features

Circuit of the Americas opened in October 2012 as the first purpose-built Formula One facility in the United States. MotoGP first raced at COTA on April 21, 2013, with Marc Marquez winning the inaugural race. The circuit has hosted MotoGP annually since 2013, with the exception of 2020. Marquez won consecutive Americas GP races from 2013 to 2018 and again in 2021, earning the venue the nickname "Marquez Land" among fans.

The facility includes a 14,000-seat open-air amphitheater and hosts multiple motorsport categories throughout the year. The 2026 season will also see the debut of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, a new racing class featuring Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The circuit design mirrors famous corners from legendary tracks worldwide, creating a unique challenge that tests all aspects of rider skill and machine performance.

The Americas GP at Circuit of the Americas represents a key race for the 2026 MotoGP championship. The diverse grid of riders and teams, combined with the final season of 1000cc engines, creates compelling competition on one of the most distinctive circuits in the series.